Singapore 'ideal' for EU firms to enter S-E Asia

Hannover, Germany

FOR European companies seeking to make inroads into South-east Asia's advanced manufacturing industry, Singapore serves as an ideal springboard to the region, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon said at the Hannover Messe trade show on Wednesday.

Not only is Singapore the European Union's 15th largest trade partner globally and its single largest Asean trading partner, a free trade agreement between the two is also in the works to improve Singapore and European companies' access to each other's market.